For the first time in more than a decade, four members of the Mt. Diablo school board will be relative newcomers after two newly elected trustees are sworn in Monday. Trustee Linda Mayo, who was elected in 1997, will be the trustee with the most experience on the board, followed by Trustees Cheryl Hansen and Lynne Dennler — who were elected just two years ago.

Newly elected trustees Brian Lawrence and Barbara Oaks — who promised to usher in a new era of transparency — will join the board as newcomers. Longtime Trustee Gary Eberhart has stepped down and Board President Sherry Whitmarsh — who was elected as the first-place finisher four years ago — was soundly defeated in her re-election bid.

Below is the agenda for Monday’s meeting. Please note that the regular meeting starts at 7 p.m. Trustees will be sworn in twice — once at 6 p.m. before they go into closed session, and again at 7 p.m., in a more ceremonial swearing in, to include the public at the regular meeting.

Agenda:

“1.0 Call to Order

1.1 President will call the meeting to order Info

1.2 6:00 p.m. Oath of Office – Brian Lawrence and Barbara Oaks Info

2.0 Announcements

2.1 In closed session, the Board will consider the items listed on the closed session agenda. Info

3.0 Public Comment

3.1 The public may address the Board concerning items that are scheduled for discussion during closed session only. These presentations are limited to three minutes each, or a total of thirty minutes for all speakers or the three minute limit may be shortened. Speakers are not allowed to yield their time. Info

4.0 Adjourn to Closed Session at 6:00 p.m.

4.1 Negotiations – The Board may discuss negotiations or provide direction to its representatives regarding represented employees, pursuant to EERA (Govt. Code Section 3549.1) Agency negotiators: Julie Braun Martin and Deborah Cooksey. Agencies: MDEA, CSEA, Local One M&O, Local One CST, MDSPA, and Supervisory. Action

4.2 Anticipated Litigation Info

5.0 Reconvene Open Session

5.1 Reconvene Open Session at 7:00 p.m. Info

6.0 Preliminary Business

6.1 Pledge of Allegiance and Roll Call Info

7.0 Report Out Action Taken in Closed Session

7.1 Report of Closed Session – November 5, 2012 Info

7.2 Report of Closed Session – December 10, 2012 Info

8.0 Organizational Meeting

8.1 Oath of Office – Brian Lawrence and Barbara Oaks Info

8.2 Annual Board of Education Organizational Meeting Info

8.3 Elect Board President Action

8.4 Elect Vice President Action

8.5 Appoint Secretary Action

8.6 Establish Regular Meeting Dates, Time and Location Action

8.7 Adopt Certificate of Signatures Action

9.0 Consent Agenda

Action

9.1 (Item #1) Items listed under Consent Agenda are considered routine and will be approved/adopted by a single motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items; however, any item may be removed from the consent agenda upon the request of any member of the Board and acted upon separately. Action

9.2 (Item #2) Minutes of the meeting of November 5, 2012 Action

9.3 (Item #3) Recommended Action for Certificated Personnel Action

9.4 (Item #4) Request to increase and decrease Full Time Equivalent (FTE) for the 2012-2013 school year. Action

9.5 (Item #5) Recommended Action for Classified Personnel Action

9.6 (Item #6) Classified Personnel: Request to Increase and Decrease Positions Action

9.7 (Item #7) Fiscal Transactions for the month of October 2012 Action

9.8 (Item #8) Fiscal Transactions for the month of November 2012 Action

9.9 (Item #9) Monthly Budget Transfer and/or Budget Increases/Decreases for the Month of October 2012 Action

9.10 (Item #10) Memorandum of Understanding between ConnectEd: The California Center for College and Career and Mt. Diablo Unified School District Action

9.11 (Item #11) Increase contract/purchase order with My Therapy Company for bilingual Speech and Language services at the Assessment Center and Meadow Homes Elementary for the 2012-13 School Year Action

9.12 (Item #12) Aligning Categorical Funding in the Student Achievement and School Support (SASS) Department with the Positions Performing the Related Work Action

9.13 (Item #13) Final/Deductive Change Order: SunPower Corporation, Systems Action

9.14 (Item #14) Final Change Order: Taber Construction, Inc. Action

9.15 (Item #15) Approval of Contract with Exploring New Horizons (ENH) for Bancroft Elementary and Mt. Diablo Elementary Outdoor Ed Program Action

9.16 (Item #16) Resolution Regarding Applications For Funding Under State Facility Program That Are Received Beyond Bond Authority Action

9.17 (Item #17) Notice of Completion for Bid #1601/Contract C-905 to provide HVAC Renovations at Sun Terrace Elementary, Sequoia Elementary and Valley View Middle School Action

9.18 (Item #18) Notice of Completion for Solar Power Design/Build Contract with SunPower Corporation, Systems Action

9.19 (Item #19) Award of Professional Services Contract for the Provision of Requisite Environmental Consultation Services Related to the Proposed Athletic Facilities Improvements at Clayton Valley Charter High School. Action

9.20 (Item #20) Contract for Architectural/Engineering Services for Skylight System Removal-Infill at Strandwood Elementary School Action

9.21 (Item #21) Procurement and Installation of New Synthetic Turf on Stadium Field at Clayton Valley Charter High School Action

9.22 (Item #22) Approve Independent Service Contract with Kevin Clark Consulting for services provided at Rio Vista Elementary Action

9.23 (Item #23) Approve submission of the 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant for Mt. Diablo High and Concord High School. Action

9.24 (Item #24) Manufacture, Fabrication/Assembly and Deliver Heating, Ventilating & Air Conditioning Equipment Action

9.25 (Item #25) Board Action Progress Report Action

9.26 (Item #26) Approve contract between Talk Solutions and Mt. Diablo CARES After School Program Action

9.27 (Item #27) Award of Lease-Leaseback Agreement to S and H Construction, Inc. for Interior Renovations for the International Hospitality and Tourism Academy (IHTA) at Mt. Diablo High School Action

9.28 (Item #28) Contract Amendment: PHd Architects: Modification to Incorporate Chemistry Laboratory Classrooms at Ygnacio Valley High School Action

9.29 (Item #29) Approval of Preliminary Services Agreement for the Site Adaption and Development of Chemistry Laboratory Classroom facility at Ygnacio Valley High School Action

9.30 (Item #30) Approve Adjustments to Non-Public School Purchase Order/Contracts for the 2012/13 School Year Action

9.31 (Item #31) Contract for Maintenance of District’s Phone Systems and Voice Mail Action

10.0 Consent Items Pulled for Discussion

11.0 Public Comment

11.1 The public may address the Board regarding any item within the jurisdiction of the Board of Education of the Mt. Diablo Unified School District that is not on this agenda. These presentation are limited to three minutes each, or a total of thirty minutes for all speakers, or the three minute limit may be shortened. If there are multiple speakers on any one subject, the public comment period may be moved to the end of the meeting. Speakers are not allowed to yield their time. Info

12.0 Communications

12.1 District Organizations – At regular Board meetings, a single spokesperson of each recognized district organization may make a brief presentation following the Consent Agenda. Items are limited to those which are informational. Info

13.0 Reports/Information

13.1 AB 790 Linked Learning Pilot Grant – Bill Morones and Joanne Durkee Info

13.2 District English Learner Advisory Committee – Ernie DeTrinidad Info

14.0 Superintendent’s Report

14.1 Superintendent’s Report Info

15.0 Business/Action Items

15.1 Appointment of Database Administrator Action

15.2 Appointment of Construction Manager I Action

15.3 First Interim Report 2012-2013 Action

15.4 Resolution: Delegation of Authority to Superintendent or His Designee to Approve Agreements Pursuant to Education Code Section 17604 and 17605 Action

15.5 Public Hearing and Resolution of Dedication of Easement: College Park High School Action

15.6 Public Hearing and Resolution of Dedication of Easement: Sun Terrace Elementary School Action

15.7 Sungard Bi-Tech Upgrade to 7.9.7 Action

15.8 Request to approve MDUSD/Solution Tree – Mike Mattos Contract for RtI Professional Development Day, January 31, 2013 Action

15.9 Appointment to California School Board’s Association (CSBA) Action

15.10 Call for Nominations for California School Board’s Association (CSBA) Delegate Assembly Action

15.11 Revise Job Descriptions for Child Attendant I and Child Attendant II and Increase Salary for Positions Info

15.12 Meeting Extension Action

16.0 Board Member Reports

16.1 Board reports Info

17.0 Closed Session

17.1 Items not completed during the first Closed Session will be carried over to this closed session. Action

18.0 Adjournment

18.1 Adjourn Meeting Info”

It will be interesting to see who is elected president and vice president, given the vast gap in experience between Mayo and the remaining trustees.

Since Brian Lawerence and Barbara Oaks promised transparency in decision-making, it will be interesting to see if they grant the superintendent the authority to enter into contracts without prior board approval during the holiday break (item 15.4). The stated reason for this abdication of board authority is because there are no meetings more meetings scheduled in December. However, the board could easily call special meetings to approve contracts. This would be the transparent way to conduct business. Will the new board insist on this?

The board should also question why the district plans to enter into lease-leaseback agreements instead of regular construction contracts. Pete Pedersen has previously told the Bond Oversight Committee that the district enters into these types of agreements to circumvent the law that requires public agencies to hire the lowest bidder. The board should question Pedersen about why the district wants to circumvent this law. Failure to hire the lowest bidder could give the appearance of favoritism. And allowing the superintendent to enter into these contracts without board oversight could add to the appearance of deals being made behind closed doors.

Do you think the board should agree to allow the superintendent to enter into lease-leaseback contracts without prior approval?

As a reminder, Superintendent Steven Lawrence plans to hold meetings with parents in three feeder patterns this month:

Tonight at 7 p.m. at Ayers Elementary in Concord: The Ayers, Highlands, Mt. Diablo Elementary, Silverwood, Diablo View, and Pine Hollow feeder pattern meeting will meet.

December 12: Northgate HS Feeder Pattern:
Includes: Foothill MS, Valle Verde EL, Walnut Acres EL, Bancroft EL

December 19: Ygnacio Valley HS Feeder Pattern:
Includes: Oak Grove MS, Fair Oaks EL, Cambridge EL, Meadow Homes EL, Woodside EL, Ygnacio Valley EL

Below is the list of meeting times and dates, along with feeder patterns meeting next year. Lawrence said locations will be determined by principals who volunteer their sites.

Concord HS Feeder Pattern: January 23, and April 10
Includes: El Dorado MS, Westwood EL, Monte Gardens EL, El Monte EL, Mt. View EL, Wren Avenue EL, Sun Terrace EL

College Park HS Feeder Pattern: January 30, April 17
Includes: Valley View MS, Pleasant Hill MS, Sequoia MS, Hidden Valley EL, Valhalla EL, Gregory Gardens EL, Pleasant Hill EL, Sequoia EL

Mt. Diablo HS Feeder Pattern: February 6, April 24
Includes: Riverview MS, Rio Vista EL, Shore Acres EL, Bel Air EL, Delta View EL

At the Pleasant Hill Education Advisory Commission meeting, several commissioners discussed the CPHS feeder pattern meeting that was held Nov. 8. Here’s a rundown of what they discussed, based on minutes taken by one of the parents. Items in quotes are exact quotes from the minutes. The rest is paraphrased.

1. Attendance: six schools were represented and five were not (no mention of whether parents in the schools not represented were informed about the meeting).

2. Common Core: District will spend $12 million in Measure C money on new computers for assessments.

3. No Child Left Behind (NCLB): Parents were concerned about large number of NCLB students being sent to Pleasant Hill MS.
“District is grappling with sending NCLB students to Pine Hollow as those students will be inclined to attend Clayton Valley Charter in their future causing funding challenges.”

4. Staffing ratios:
Parents were concerned that CPHS, which has a very large enrollment, has only one college and career adviser. Yet, much smaller schools also have one person filling this role.
“Dr. Lawrence stated that the district has never had ratios for this staffing, yet it would be good to take a close look atw this when our district has more money.
Several parents were not satisfied.”

5. Evaluation of PAC meetings vs. the new Feeder Pattern Meeting Model:

Lawrence said he had more success with feeder pattern meetings and planned to test the model for one year.
“When questioned on a perception of exclusion (as attendees are on an email guest list) Dr. Lawrence suggested that people bring a friend and that the meetings are not meant to exclude. To that end, he is considering hosting a High School across district meeting so that parents from the high schools can join a conversation with Dr. Lawrence and begin sharing best practices.”

6. Unions/Contracts
Lawrence said five union contracts are up for renewal next year.

7. GATE
Lawrence talked about differentiation for accelerated learning.
“He mentioned something about ‘framing and regrouping’ but that was not clear. He noted that extending learning opportunities for all i his belief.”

Do you think the district should keep feeder pattern minutes and post them?

Here is the agenda for tonight’s Mt. Diablo school district special education Community Advisory Committee meeting tonight:

COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

AGENDA

DATE: December 4, 2012

TIME: 7:00 – 9:15 p.m.

PLACE: Dent Center – Board Room

1. Call to Order 7:00

2. Introductions (7:02 – 7:10)

Please notify the audience during introductions if you are recording the meeting

Please let us know if this is your first time attending a CAC meeting

3. Adoption of Minutes – November 6, 2012 (7:10 – 7:15)

4. Presentation – Autism Magnet Program – Jenny Carvalho (7:15 – 7:35)

5. Chairperson’s Report – Lorrie Davis (7:35 – 7:45)

5.1 New CAC Member Nomination – Janine Payne

6. Old Business (7:45 – 8:15)

6.1 Interim Assistant Superintendent’s Report – Dr. Kerri Mills

6.2 Board of Education Report – Lynne Dennler

6.3 Board of Education Comments – No Report

6.4 Budget Advisory Committee Report – Tricia Tamura-Li

6.5 Equity Advisory Team – Dorothy Weisenberger

NETWORKING BREAK

7. New Business (8:25– 9:00)

7.1 QIAT – Christian Patz – No Report

7.2 Autism Task Force – Lorien Quirk

7.3 Advisory Commission on Special Education – No Report

7.4 Parent Liaison – Hilary Shen

7.5 Sub-Committee Updates
Parent & Community Education Committee – Julie Nibblett
Membership & Publicity Committee – Vi Ibarra
Legislative Committee – Denise Lambert
Blog Committee – Autumn Green

8. Public Comment (9:00 – 9:10)
Public comment is an opportunity to share concerns and comments with the CAC. In the interest of time, speakers are limited to three (3) minutes each with a total of fifteen (15) minutes for all speakers. Please respect student and personnel privacy. CAC members and district staff might not be able to respond to individual concerns in this forum, but will take your contact information and follow-up with you.

9. Information Items/Announcements/Adjournment (9:10 – 9:15)

DON’T FORGET – - BRING A FRIEND TO THE MEETING!!”

Do you think Mills should answer the CAC’s remaining questions related to the FCMAT transportation review?